The Mother - Past-Present-Future

Introduction

The writings collected here—with slight revision at times—first appeared in Mother India, Monthly Review of Culture, published by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, in various issues from December 1973 to February 1976. All of them relate to the Mother.

Several bear upon the event of the Mother's passing away on November 17,1973. Others look back upon her life and work up to that day, focus on some particular spiritual achievement of hers, record talks with her, revive personal memories, give diary-notes of Yoga under her guidance or look forward to the continuation of her help in inner and outer living. All these writings are from one pen.

A supplement has been added which includes, along with some matter by the same hand, a number of the Mother's own writings, a few by disciples reporting either an interview with her or a vision connected with her work, and a brief yet intimate public tribute to her by India's Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

What is sought to be offered is a sense of the momentous mission the Mother carried out while she was in her body, the constant touch of her presence felt by her spiritual children and the bright surmise inspired for the future by the feeling that her great and gracious labour is endless.

The copyright of the Mother's writings rests with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, by whose kind permission they have been used here. The rights of the other writings included are reserved by their respective authors.

The publication of this book has been made possible through the enthusiastic services of two valued friends, K. L. Gambhir and his son Kamal Gambhir of Kamal Printers, 365 Raja Park, Jaipur. To both of them my hearty thanks.

September 30,1976 K. D. S.